February Headlines - click to see the full story
23/2/2009 - TRA 2010 - first announcement and call for papers
23/2/2009 - Expertising Governance for Transfrontier Conurbations
21/2/2009 - Local Authorities' Days: water management on top of the agenda
21/2/2009 - First EcoMobility project launched in Edmonton
21/2/2009 - UN-HABITAT mourns death of Habitat for Humanity founder
20/2/2009 - 1000 Cities GIS Project - developing GIS-based spatial information strategies
20/2/2009 - City economies at risk from EU cohesion policy
19/2/2009 - Prague Summit: local and regional government to send message to Heads of State and Government
19/2/2009 - Town twinning: questions on the new guide on how to get EU funding
18/2/2009 - Kenyan President opens UNEP Governing Council urging a "Green New Deal”
18/2/2009 - 22nd Session of UN Habitat Governing Council
18/2/2009 - A Guide to Financial Support for Small and Medium-Sized Local Authorities
16/2/2009 - Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat seek new Chair
16/2/2009 - World Bank, USC hold workshop on megacities
13/2/2009 - Social Polis Conference Call
13/2/2009 - 350 Mayors set out to E.U. Energy and Climate Targets
12/2/2009 - How can local governments implement clean(er) fuel policies in transport?
12/2/2009 - PERI Releases New Book on Community Recovery in the Aftermath of Disaster
12/2/2009 - Covenant of Mayors: 400 local governments commit to cutting more than 20% of CO² emissions by 2020
12/2/2009 - UN staff launch charity drive for millions starving in Kenya
9/2/2009 - "Broadband must become fourth utility" says Welsh local government
9/2/2009 - UN-HABITAT and Olympic body sign historic cooperation pact
9/2/2009 - Apply now for workplace mobility award!
9/2/2009 - Cities: the lynchpins of international accessibility
6/2/2009 - New Partners Conference: U.S. Approaching ''Fundamental Change'' in Housing Dynamics
6/2/2009 - EcoProcura 2009 Programme
6/2/2009 - A snapshot of Europe's local and regional authorities: a CEMR-Dexia factsheet
6/2/2009 - Davos Climate Focus: Ban Urges Leaders to Think Green & Steiner Promotes Design for Good
5/2/2009 - New York City Wins the 2009 Sustainable Transport Award
5/2/2009 - Final publication of the MEDIACITY project
1/2/2009 - Registration for Singapore International Water Week now open
1/2/2009 - European Transport Conference - final call for papers
1/2/2009 - Velo-city conference: the "re-cycling" of European cities
1/2/2009 - European elections & French local government: Let the debates start!
1/2/2009 - Barcelona hosts cities policy forum
TRA 2010 - first announcement and call for papers
The 3rd Transport Research Arena (TRA 2010) conference will be held in Brussels (Belgium) from 7 to 10 June 2010.
The TRA will deal with climate change and road safety, embraced in the slogan "Greener, safer and smarter transport for Europe”. For TRA 2010 the main theme will be Sustaining Road Transport Mobility through innovation in Europe.
The internet site http://www.traconference.eu/ is now active and the “First Announcement & Call for abstracts/papers“ has been published.
The Management and Programme Committees are expecting to receive your contribution to the scientific programme very soon.
Expertising Governance for Transfrontier Conurbations
EGTC (Expertising Governance for Transfrontier Conurbations)* is a project dedicated to networking cross-border conurbations in Europe on the topic of governance. It involves the Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT) as Lead Partner and six cross-border conurbations**. The next seminar of the project will be held in Chaves (Portugal) on 12 March 2009 on the topic : « Cross-border conurbations: empowering internal governance », at the invitation of the City of Chaves.
More than 60 cross-border conurbations have been identified in Europe. They represent almost 25 million people. Astride two or even three borders, they are places where "European citizenship" is lived day-by-day by the inhabitants. It is fundamental for them to define "governance models" enabling to bring together all relevant stakeholders, public and private, from each side of the border, and to implement common work programmes. The EGTC project aims to support cross-border conurbations to define their governance models, identify best practices and exchange experiences at European level.
Seminar in Chaves (Portugal), 12 march 2009 on the topic: "Cross-border conurbations: empowering internal governance"
Workshops, Plenary sessions, debates, site visits of the Cross-border projects of the Eurocidade Chaves-Verín are all on the programme throughout the one-day seminar.
Local Authorities' Days: water management on top of the agenda
The 5th World Water Forum will be held in Istanbul from 16 to 22 March 2009. It is open to local and regional government.
During the forum, two days will be dedicated to the "Local Authorities' Days" (18-19 March). The first day will be organised around three sessions: water governance and sanitation; water management and sanitation under climate change; water management and sanitation in rapidly growing cities. An "Assembly of Local Authorities" will be held on the second day for the adoption of the Istanbul Water Consensus*.
A high level debate between local government, parliamentary members and ministers will be organised on 20 March.
20,000 participants are expected to attend the event and around 100 thematic sessions will be held. The world association of local government, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), is coorganising the forum. http://www.worldwaterforum5.org/index.php?id=1870&L=0
First EcoMobility project launched in Edmonton
The City of Edmonton is the first city in the world to implement an EcoMobility project with the Global Alliance for EcoMobility. Local Motion, a month long demonstration project in June 2009, will promote the use of travel options which are healthy, accessible and flexible, good for the environment and encourage vibrant and livable neighborhoods.
The City of Edmonton is the first city in the world to implement an EcoMobility project with the Global Alliance for EcoMobility. Supported by Transport Canada, Edmonton will receive funding for a community pilot project that aims to promote flexible work hours and alternative modes of transport, such as walking, cycling, public transit and carpooling in a 'demonstration neighborhood'; in the city.
Local Motion, a month long Community Demonstration Project, will be hosted by the Parkallen community and will set an example for other cities around the world. The project will encourage the use of travel options which are healthy, accessible and flexible, good for the environment and encourage vibrant and livable neighborhoods. “This is a cross-departmental initiative that supports the City’s strategic plan to preserve and sustain Edmonton’s environment, transform Edmonton’s urban form and shift Edmonton’s transportation mode,” says Barry Anderson, Manager of the City’s Office of the Environment and Energy. For more information visit the City of Edmonton's website. http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/news/10603.aspx
UN-HABITAT mourns death of Habitat for Humanity founder
UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka this week paid a special tribute to the memory of Mr. Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity International, who died on February 3 near Americus, Georgia in the United States, aged 74.
“Mr. Fuller was a great and inspiring visionary. He brought a sense of pride to people most in need, a feeling that they can uplift themselves against seemingly impossible odds,” Mrs. Tibaijuka said.
“He inspired us all to take that very important step. His passing is a terrible loss to us all. Our prayers are with his family at this time," she added.
Mr. Fuller, who, propelled by his strong Christian principles walked away from his life as a successful businessman at age 29 to devote himself to the poor. He eventually started Habitat for Humanity International, which developed a system of using donated money, material and voluntary labour to build homes for low-income families
1000 Cities GIS Project - developing GIS-based spatial information strategies
Data on urban averages can mask important differences between one part of a city and another. In those few cities where data are available, there is high stunting, child mortality and morbidity in poorer neighborhoods - often at higher rates than are found in the rural areas. The GUO promotes the collection of information that is broken out by geographical location within a city, for example by district and neighbourhood. GUO is helping cities to use modern technology such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and high-resolution satellite images in order to analyse information for prioritizing investments and monitoring service delivery. The GUO has also taken a major leap forward in supporting cities to carry out household surveys in order to highlight the significant gap in living conditions between slum dwellers and other city residents. http://ww2.unhabitat.org/programmes/guo/products_and_services.asp
The overriding economic benefits of urban concentration could be jeopardised by the European Commission’s plan for ‘territorial cohesion’, says EUROCITIES.
At a meeting this week with EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner, the mayors and vice-mayors of some of Europe’s biggest cities presented the network’s response to the Commission’s Green Paper. Leading discussions, EUROCITIES President Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague, said:
“Some people think that territorial cohesion is about connecting rural areas, about providing the same services as in cities with schools and hospitals on their doorstep. But the Green Paper recognises that territorial cohesion is not about levelling out the advantages of concentration. We must build on the positive aspects of diversity and high-level competitiveness which cities alone bring to Europe.”
http://www.eurocities.eu/include/lib/sql_news_card.php?id=1470 Prague Summit: local and regional government to send message to Heads of State and Government
The Committee of the Regions is organising a European Summit of Regions and Cities in Prague on 5 and 6 March 2009, in partnership with the City of Prague, and with the support of the Czech Presidency of the European Union.
500 elected representatives for regional and local governments, including regional presidents, mayors, presidents of regional parliaments as well as key players from the European institutions and organisations representing regional and local government will send a message to Europe's Heads of State and Government with ideas on how to master the economic and political challenges facing the European Union.
Key issues for debate and discussion include: the EU budget review, cohesion policy reform, the reform of the common agricultural policy, a sustainable Europe, adapting to climate change, the growth and jobs strategy, mobilising for innovation, energy security and the EU demographic challenges. Participation in the Summit is only possible upon personal invitation.
Town twinning: questions on the new guide on how to get EU funding
On 20 January 2009, the European Commission's DG Education and Culture organised an information day on the Europe for citizens programme guide. It includes a part on town twinning and on the possibility of EU support. John Atkins, of the European Commission's executive Agency for Education and Culture, answers our questions on the new programme guide.
What are the main changes on the programme guide compared with the previous one? What are the main errors local authorities should avoid when applying for EU support? What would you say would constitute a very good project then? These are some of the questions that John Atkins tackles in this interview.
The interview is available in English and French on the Twinning in Europe's website. http://www.twinning.org/en/twinning_today/show/id/7.html
Kenyan President opens UNEP Governing Council urging a "Green New Deal”
President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya formally opened the 25th Session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) this week with a call to world leaders to support a “Green New Deal” aimed at tackling climate change and revitalizing the crippled global economy.
Delegates from all over the world gathered at the UN headquarters in Nairobi for the week-long meeting at which UNEP Executive Director and UN Under-Secretary-General, Mr. Achim Steiner, emphasized the need for a transition to a green economy in a bid to overcome the global recession in a sustainable manner. http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=6220&catid=5&typeid=6&subMenuId=0
22nd Session of UN Habitat Governing Council
The 22nd Session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, (UN-HABITAT) will be held from 30 March to 3 April 2009 at the UN-HABITAT headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The Governing Council meets every two years to examine UN-HABITAT's work and relationships with its partners. The Council is composed of 58 member states. It is a high-level forum of governments at the ministerial level during which policy guidelines and the organisation's budget are established for the next two-year period.
A Guide to Financial Support for Small and Medium-Sized Local Authorities
The Institut de la Gestion Déléguée - IGD (Institute for Delegated Management), in partnership with UCLG, has published a Guide to Financial Support for Small and Medium-Sized Local Authorities. This guide aims to facilitate dialogue between local elected leaders and potential financers in order to enable them to improve their access to financial resources. It is directed primarily at elected officials from small and medium-sized local authorities in the South. http://www.fondation-igd.org/pdf/Publi/Autoeval_vang.pdf
Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat seek new Chair
The current Chair, David Scott’s tenure will come to an end during 2009. Nominations are thus sought for the next Chair who will serve for 2 years between approximately Fall 2009 to Fall 2011. The plan is that the successful candidate will be elected as Vice Chair by summer 2009 so that there are a few months’ overlap before the formal chair hand-over, which is expected to occur at the CTBUH’s annual conference / 40th Anniversary celebratory event in Chicago in October 2009.
Nominations are thus sought from the CTBUH membership on potential Chair candidates, in the form of submitting the candidate’s name and contact details to CTBUH Manager of Operations Geri Kery at gkery@ctbuh.org. The Board of Trustees, which is the effective Chair Search Committee (see listing below) will form a short-list from the nominations and ask short-listed candidates to provide a resume of prior relevant background and a brief outline of their vision for the CTBUH in the coming years. Candidates should conduct an audit of current activities / understanding of operations (via reviewing CTBUH website: www.ctbuh.org) in the compilation of this vision.
World Bank, USC hold workshop on megacities
A workshop on “Megacities: Challenges and Opportunities” was held at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, February 4. The workshop was organised in connection with the launch of a new knowledge partnership between the World Bank’s East Asia Region and the University of Southern California (USC). The partnership aims to increase joint research, knowledge sharing, outreach, and exchange of expertise between the two organisations.
At the workshop, a range of panels discussed issues related to megacities, including urban growth, different types of megacities, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and metropolitan governance. Some key points that emerged from the panels were: * Megacities are not entirely negative. While there are challenges related to dealing with them – including pollution, vulnerability to disaster, transportation, crime and poverty – they play a positive role by driving economic growth; * Any slum upgrading effort needs the active support of the slum dwellers in question. Cities cannot simply impose solutions to slums from the top down; * Cities, which produce nearly 80 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, must take a leading role in preventing climate change catastrophe. Now is the time for cities to implement innovative policy measures and enhance their resilience.
http://www.citiesalliance.org/publications/homepage-features/feb-09/WB_megacities_workshop.html
Social Polis Conference Call
‘SOCIAL POLIS: the Social Platform on Cities and Social Cohesion’ is an EU project funded under the 7th Framework Programme coordinated by Prof. Frank Moulaert and Prof. Jean Hillier. It is a social platform for stakeholder consultation and, as such, it is a new step forward in engaging a wide range of individuals, organisations, groups and communities in the development of a research agenda on ‘Cities and Social Cohesion’ for the SSH Framework Programme 7 of the European Commission. The aim of SOCIAL POLIS is to draw upon the combined experience, knowledge and views of urban practitioners and researchers who work on strengthening cohesion, integration, and inclusion in European cities as well as cities in other continents.
On the 11th and 12th of May 2009 SOCIAL POLIS will be holding a large-scale Stakeholder Conference at the University of Economics in Vienna. The conference programme will include presentations from project Lead Partners and stakeholders, working groups on the research fields of SOCIAL POLIS, discussion roundtables for exchange of ideas and experiences and an exhibition on projects, organisations and cities. Participants will elaborate on the SOCIAL POLIS Focused Research Agenda on ‘Cities and Social Cohesion’ for future 7th Framework Programme Calls. The conference will also bring together stakeholders from all sectors to discuss research, policy and practice issues related to social cohesion in contemporary urban areas. (Deadline for applications: 28th of February 2009).
Please visit the SOCIAL POLIS website http://www.socialpolis.eu to find the detailed Call for Contributions, Vienna Conference Calls, and more information about activities of the platform.
350 Mayors set out to E.U. Energy and Climate Targets
Just a few weeks after the E.U. adopted the ‘Energy and Climate Package’ confirming the ‘3x20’ targets for 2020, 350 Mayors voluntarily set out to achieve and even exceed these objectives in their local territories.
Following an invitation from the E.U. Commission and the Committee of the Regions, some 1000 Mayors and local authorities’ representatives will take part in the First Ceremony of the Covenant of Mayors (www.eumayors.eu) that will be hosted by the E.U. Parliament in Brussels on February 10, 2009.
Energie-Cités welcomes this initiative that will motivate Cities and Towns in taking up the challenge with their citizens and stakeholders, together with the E.U. institutions, as the network had been awaiting this project for many years
As managers of local communities, local authorities are paramount in achieving the E.U. targets to reduce energy vulnerability and obviate sources of climate change. European and national pieces of legislation are essential though not sufficient. Everyday hands-on action is called for here: control of urban spread; promotion of energy-saving locomotion; construction and renovation of low-consumption buildings; implementation of local renewable resources. Such actions improve quality of everyday life and generate sustainable employment.
Local authorities and their concrete actions provide the E.U and all Member States with additional means to keep to their international commitments. In return they expect to be acknowledged as key partners and to be given the legislative, tax and financial framework that fits their potentials.
Whereas there is a general concern on how Europe will overcome the crisis and whereas this concern is likely to relinquish energy and climate matters, it might well be that Mayors lead the path for a new development approach in Europe. In which case, February 10 2009 could become a day in History.
How can local governments implement clean(er) fuel policies in transport?
With increasing concerns about climate change and the environment, local governments are recognising their role by implementing environmental policies to fight global warming. Using the right clean(er) fuel and vehicles policies is important to achieve CO2 reduction targets, but often local governments face challenges on how to make such measures operational. In order to help them in overcoming these, Biofuel Cities has developed a handbook
revealing key success factors for the local use of clean(er) fuels and vehicles.
To answer these questions, Biofuel Cities has developed a handbook for local implementation of clean(er) fuel policies in Europe, which will be presented for the first time at the Biofuel Cities Workshop to be held in Rotterdam on 19-20 February 2009.
To learn more about the findings and experiences described in the handbook, representatives of local governments and entrepreneurs are welcome to join the discussion and to participate in the Rotterdam workshop, where their comments will contribute to finalise the handbook. Hosted by the Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI) as
part of the Clinton Climate Initiative, a support initiative for cities that have pledged to accelerate their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the workshop offers a rich programme open to questions and debates.
PERI Releases New Book on Community Recovery in the Aftermath of Disaster
The Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI), a nonprofit research institute focused on risk management training and education, announced today the release of Managing for Long-Term Community Recovery in the Aftermath of Disaster. This insightful new book is designed to help local officials and community leaders understand what is required for long-term recovery following a disaster.
Written by Daniel J. Alesch, Lucy A. Arendt, and James N. Holly, Managing for Long-Term Community Recovery in the Aftermath of Disaster, is the result of years of cumulative research in dozens of communities that have experienced extreme events to determine what it takes for a community to truly recover. The book examines the issues and challenges in restoring or building the social, political, and economic elements that make a community viable in the long term after a disaster has occurred.
Managing for Long-Term Community Recovery in the Aftermath of Disaster can be ordered on the PERI Website at www.riskinstitute.org/bookstore. For additional information or to review the full table of contents, please visit www.riskinstitute.org. PERI’s Website offers a wide range of free and low-cost resources to help communities deal with disaster preparedness, disaster response, and disaster recovery.
Around 350 European local governments signed the Covenant of Mayors at the European Parliament in Brussels, on 10 February 2008. By signing it, they commit themselves to go beyond the EU's energy objective of reducing 20% CO² emissions by 2020.
The Covenant of Mayors is an initiative of the European Commission and European local government associations including the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR). It brings together mayors of Europe's cities and local government in a permanent network to make better use of energy in cities and towns. By signing the covenant, mayors commit their cities or towns to adopting sustainable energy action plans within twelve months and achieving a series of targets and obligations. Their progress will be closely monitored by external evaluators.
http://www.ccre.org/news_detail_en.htm?ID=1533
UN staff launch charity drive for millions starving in Kenya
The United Nations headquarters in Kenya on Monday launched a charity drive to help millions of people facing starvation in their host country.
The ‘Hunger is not an option’ campaign was launched by Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT in her capacity as Director General of the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON).
She appealed to staff members, who number an estimated 3,000, to purchase food vouchers so that the Red Cross can help feed as many people as possible.
“Hunger is not an option,” she said. “But at the moment for 10 million people it is a reality. And as a UN family we have to grapple with the underlying issues. There is food in this country, but the real problem is access.”
http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=6205&catid=5&typeid=6&subMenuId=0
"Broadband must become fourth utility" says Welsh local government
Welsh local government has welcomed the review announced by the European Commission to make broadband* a common universal service and in particular the additional €1 billion that could be invested in digital rural economies across European regions, including Wales.
Councillor Bob Bright, member of the Welsh Local Government Association and Member of Newport Council said: Broadband must become as easily accessible as any other utility. It must become the fourth utility [after water, gaz and electricity]. Broadband is an absolute necessity both in terms of jobs and our future digital economy, particularly in rural Wales where the communication “not spots” are infamous. These additional EU resources, which will hopefully find their way through the Structural Funds Programme and the Rural Development Plans will be vital to sustaining the future digital economy of these disadvantaged areas.
Cllr Bright will present his final report for approval by the 344-strong Committee of the Regions (CoR) Plenary in Brussels on Friday 12th February. *Broadband is the name for a fast connection to the Internet that makes the transfer of data to and from a computer faster.
UN-HABITAT and Olympic body sign historic cooperation pact
UN-HABITAT and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday signed Memorandum of Understanding aimed at promoting youth empowerment through sport by targeting mainly vulnerable and disadvantaged communities world-wide.
The landmark pact was signed by Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, UN-HABITAT Executive Director, and the IOC President, Mr. Jacques Rogge, at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
A joint statement issued at the ceremony said that through the agreement both sides would strive to encourage advocacy and field-level activities in pursuit of these objectives through UN-HABITAT’s offices and the National Olympic Committees. They would also encourage youth to participate in sports activities and thus promote the Millennium Development Goals to alleviate poverty and to improve the living conditions of slum dwellers everywhere.
“This MOU between UN-HABITAT and the IOC is an important step forward in meeting the challenges of sustainable urbanization especially in the developing world. We must not forget that over 50 percent of slum populations are made up of young people and there is no better way to give direction and motivation than by encouraging them to participate in sports,” said Mrs. Tibaijuka. http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=6195&catid=5&typeid=6&subMenuId=0
Apply now for workplace mobility award!
Deadline for applications: 20 February
There are just two weeks left to apply for the Pan-European Workplace Mobility Plan Award (PEWTA), which recognises efforts aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions in urban areas through the implementation of workplace mobility plans. The PEWTA is awarded in three categories: public authorities; employers; and networks.
This scheme rewards actions that achieve a modal shift away from single occupancy car use. The prize winner will receive an expenses paid trip to a city of their choice to learn from a pioneering public authority, organisation or network in the field of workplace mobility plans. An additional cash prize of €1,000 is offered to the winner for the further development of their mobility plan measures.
The award presentation will take place at an official ceremony during the European Conference on Mobility Management 2009 in San Sebastian on 14 May 2009.
Deadline for applications: 20 February 2009. http://www.epomm.org/index.phtml?id=1593
Cities: the lynchpins of international accessibility
EUROCITIES is challenging the European Commission to reinforce the urban dimension of international accessibility documented in the Green Paper on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), launched on 4 February. EUROCITIES represents the views and expectations of 137 of Europe’s largest cities.
In its statement on TEN-T, EUROCITIES has urged the closer involvement of cities in strategic transport planning in order to maximise the potential of TEN-T for the benefit of Europe’s citizens and competitiveness.
http://www.eurocities.org/include/lib/sql_news_card.php?id=1452
New Partners Conference: U.S. Approaching ''Fundamental Change'' in Housing Dynamics
The current economic turmoil is partly rooted in sprawl, with 2000-2008 single-family home construction so exceeding demand that last year Americans lost $2 trillion in home values, mostly in the distant suburbs, reports Associated Press writer Heather Clark from the 8th annual New Partners for Smart Growth conference on building safe, healthy and livable communities, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where many speakers and panelists examined demographic, lifestyle and market trends toward ''green'' development, resource conservation and overall long-term sustainability.
''We are at the cusp of a fundamental change in the housing dynamics in this country, and we're not aware of it,'' said University of Utah Professor of City and Metropolitan Planning Arthur C. Nelson, pointing out that once the ''baby boom population'' begins selling homes and moving to attached and rental housing, half of the units built between now and 2020 will have to be for renters. http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=6970&state=52&res=1280
EcoProcura 2009 Programme
Details about the programme of EcoProcura 2009 - Climate Neural through Procurement are now available in the Final Invitation brochure. The seventh conference in this leading series will be held on 25-27 March 2009 in Reykjavik, Iceland.
We invite you to join the procurement experts, high level decision makers from local and national governments and business associates which have already confirmed their participation in the conference, to learn and exchange about how sustainable procurement can support strategies to tackle climate change.
Places are limited! We strongly recommend you to register and book your accommodation online on the conference website as soon as possible if you have not done so already.
For more information and to register visit www.iclei.org/ecoprocura2009.
In Spanish: www.iclei.org/ecoprocura2009/spanish.
A snapshot of Europe's local and regional authorities: a CEMR-Dexia factsheet
The 2008 Dexia-CCRE annual factsheet on Europe's local and regional level is now available.
The factsheet is made up of 13 tables showing details data on various themes such as the number of local and regional authorities, public spending, public investment, debt, structural funds, twinning in Europe...
Dexia has now published its factsheet in partnership with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) for the third consecutive year. It is available in English and in French.
Dexia has also launched this 5 February 2009 its annual economic outlook on the financial situation of local and regional levels in the European Union. According to it, in 2007, the financial health of the sub-national public sector got stronger to the point of enjoying a budget surplus for the first time since 2002 (€ 5 billion - 0.04% of the EU's GDP).
Dexia's study states that local and regional authorities will be affected by the financial and economic crisis in 2008 and 2009; however they will be a major actor of economic recovery plans since they are "leader in public investment" (€209 billion in 2007 - 66.6% of all public investments in Europe). http://www.ccre.org/publications_en.htm
Davos Climate Focus: Ban Urges Leaders to Think Green & Steiner Promotes Design for Good
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the world's political and business leaders participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos to use the current economic crisis to commit to a 'Green New Deal' that creates jobs and fights climate change by investing in renewable energy and technological development. The Secretary General told the World Economic Forum in Davos, 'Climate change threatens all our goals for development and social progress. Indeed, it is the one true existential threat to the planet.' He added, 'We must break the tyranny of short-term thinking in favour of long-term solutions. This will demand a renewed commitment to core principles.'The Secretary General also noted that United States President Barack Obama has made a clear commitment to re-energizing the American economy by boosting the 'green economy,' emphasizing that, 'The green economy is low-carbon and energy-efficient. It creates jobs. Investment in sustainable technologies will turn today's crisis into tomorrow's sustainable growth.'
New York City Wins the 2009 Sustainable Transport Award
January 29, 2009. New York City,U.S.A. has demonstrated that political will, bold leadership and citizen engagement can lead to sweeping transportation reforms. In 2008, the city implemented key parts of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's long-term sustainability vision, PlaNYC 2030. The laudable changes made throughout 2008 have reshaped the experience of walking onNew York City streets. The city has embraced biking and walking as investment-worthy transportation alternatives, while the traditional car-oriented mobility model is taking a back-seat. 'For a mega-city to embark on an EcoMobility agenda requires courage,' said Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, selection committee member and Secretary General of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability based in Toronto, Canada. 'New York must be congratulated for both courage and drive, and I am sure it will take the well deserved Award as an incentive to do even more.'
Final publication of the MEDIACITY project
We would like to draw your attention to the final publication of the MEDIACITY Project including selected papers presented at the last MEDIACITY conference and key findings of the research project.
Frank Eckardt et al. (eds.). MEDIACITY: Situations, Practices and Encounters. Berlin, Frank & Timme, 2008.
"MEDIACITY - Situations, Practices and Encounters" investigates how the social settings and spaces of the city are created, experienced and practiced through the use and presence of new media. It takes the position that new media enables different settings, practices and behaviours to occur in urban space. Contributions from academics, practitioners and activists from disciplines such as Media Studies, Architecture, Urban Studies, Cultural and Urban Geography and Sociology present a critical reflection on the processes, methods and impacts of technologies in urban space.
The MEDIACITY Project seeks to facilitate the transfer of outstanding international knowledge at the Bauhaus-University Weimar in order to intensify research within the interdisciplinary fields of Media Studies, Architecture and Urban Sociology. It aims to research solutions for urban development in a knowledge based society. http://www.mediacityproject.com/
Registration for Singapore International Water Week now open
As the appointed PR agency for Singapore International Water Week 2009 (SIWW 2009), BANG PR is excited to announce that the registration for SIWW 2009 is now open! Invited guests, delegates, visitors and media can now log on to www.siww.com.sg to register for the event in June.
The inaugural SIWW in 2008 saw more than 8,500 international delegates, trade visitors and media congregating in Singapore. For SIWW 2009, we expect to see an overwhelming registration response as the world continues to seek effective and sustainable solutions to tackle pressing water issues.
Look out for exciting SIWW 2009 announcements that are coming your way as we gear up for the event in June. The next big announcement in the pipeline will be the announcement of the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize winner in March 2009. Do let us know if you are keen to do any stories or interviews with him/her so that we can make the appropriate arrangements.
European Transport Conference - final call for papers
This is a final reminder for the upcoming deadline for the receipt of abstracts - Friday 6 February.
The European Transport Conference will be held in the Netherlands from 5 - 7 October 2009.
The Call for Papers and general information is available from the Association for European Transport website: www.aetransport.org
Velo-city conference: the "re-cycling" of European cities
The Brussels Capital-Region, in cooperation with the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), is holding Velo-City 2009, the biggest international cycling conference, from 12 to 15 May 2009.
The aim of Velo-city 2009 is to promote the bicycle as a valuable urban means of transport. Particular focus will therefore be given to the "re-cycling of cities".
The four-day event will be organised around several sessions and plenary sessions, excursions to Liège and Ghent, and a permanent exhibition. The highlight of this conference will be the signing of the Charter of Brussels in the European Parliament.
The Charter will include a pledge from the signing European cities to invest in bicycle as part of an urban transport system. Also in the charter these cities call out for concrete initiatives from European institutions to promote the bicycle as a fully-fledged means of urban transport. http://www.velo-city2009.com/programme-en/content.html
European elections & French local government: Let the debates start!
The French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AFCCRE) is organising a campaign to raise local and regional governments' awareness of the European elections next June.
This initiative - under the general theme "The European Parliament and local government: make our voice heard" - consists of eight forums to take place in each electoral district of metropolitan France and overseas.
The first forum (in Sceaux - on 6 February) will consist of two round-tables: one on the European Parliament and European citizenship; and another one on the impact of European public policies and on the parliamentary ties between EU and local elected representatives.
Barcelona hosts cities policy forum
The City of Barcelona and the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments hosted the Cities Alliance Annual Public Policy Forum, on 20 and 21 January, which this year focused on ways to improve the effectiveness of development aid.
Local and regional government representatives, donor agency representatives and development institutions agreed on the need to improve city management to combat poverty at the global level, by focusing efforts on the poorest neighbourhoods and by putting local actors in the driver’s seat of urban development.
“Cities are ready to fulfill their responsibilities to the most disadvantaged among their citizens. We cannot, however, be truly effective unless we reinforce joint plans and strategies with all the actors involved in development. For this to happen, there needs to be an agreement between local and national governments and multilateral organizations,” the mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu, declared at the opening of the forum.
The participants urged the international community to redouble efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals, which they said could only be achieved if local authorities were brought in as 'real' partners. http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=6162&catid=5&typeid=6&subMenuId=0
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